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Posted: |
Jan 31, 2002 - 11:17 AM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....! So you thought I'd finished watching blood 'n gore, huh? Well, think again.
This is George Romero's cult classic from 1978, a follow-up to his own NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD from a decade earlier.
If nothing else, it's a satirical kick directed against materialism and the American consumerist culture, what with the plot taking place inside a huge shopping mall and all, and the "shoppers" being mindless zombies. When one of the protagonists asks: "Why do they come here?", another replies "Because this is something they remember from their former lives, this is where they found happiness" or something like that. Which makes perfect sense, of course.
But beyond this obvious subtext, the film is an effective thriller - boasting high intensity, excellent make-up and realistic scenarios/dialogue. It's a long film - more than 2 hours - but time flies as it is built up by various interesting "set-pieces", which also makes repeated viewings profitable.
I was also surprised at the semi-happy ending, opting for sequels.
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Score is by producer Dario Argento's favourite band Goblin - perhaps best remembered for their theme to SUSPIRIA (with the whispering of the word "Witch!"). It's actually a very varied score, ranging from classical sturm und drang a la 50's monster films (Ronald Stein, Herman Stein, Irving Gertz etc.) to quasi-baroque instrumentals to regular 70's prog thumping.
My favourite part was perhaps the sad elegy played as the heroes watch a battlefield of slain zombies in the mall - mourning what was and what will probably never again be.
I'm sure the score is released, as Goblin has a wide fan base.
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This has always been one of my favourite movies; in particular the opening scenes at the TV station are brilliantly done. I come back to this video maybe every six months; it's never lost any of its power.
NP: RED HEAT (James Horner)
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Don't really have anything to add; but just wanted to say, that "Dawn" is one of my favorites. Think I'll get out the laserdisc and give it a re-watch. It's been a while.
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Posted: |
Feb 1, 2002 - 3:43 PM
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By: |
Pete M
(Member)
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Just thought I'd mention that Anchor Bay are apparently due to be releasing a 3-disc special edition of DotD sometime this year, containing the original theatrical cut, Romero's directors cut, plus Dario Argento's Italian cut.
As for the music, yes it's Goblin, but if it's Romero's version you're watching, there's a heck of a lot of library music cues in there. Argento (who produced) did a shorter cut which tightens the action up, & includes far more Goblin music, & has it dubbed in much louder. I can't wait for this set to be released.
As for Goblin's OST, Cinevox have released an expanded CD. I think it's pretty readily available from places like Amazon, Intrada etc, although under the Italian title "Zombi". It's a great album (if you're a fan of the Goblin style, that is).
NP Amelie
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Posted: |
Feb 1, 2002 - 5:17 PM
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By: |
OHMSS76
(Member)
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Thor,thor,thor.... I'm going to be following you around each week, if you keep this barrage of blood n' guts coming!
DOTD is my all time favorite film, and I have watched it more times than anyone here should know...I will not bore you with why, and how I saw it at a young,influential age, and how it still seems quite powerful to me, and achieves a level of cinema that director Romero has not been able to equal since, nor how definitive it is of the era that I love the most(the 70's), or how Goblin's score is equally powerful, yet underused compared to the recently expanded Cinevox album(the film uses lots of library tracks), or why it is alternately the most 'fun' 'chilling' and 'thought-provoking' film I've ever seen.....
I will not go on and on about this, but I will say that Dawn is a great film, and it's good to know that most of your average hoity-toity critic 'gets it', and can see the satire beyond the gore.
We must stop the killing....or lose the war 
Sean
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Posted: |
Feb 8, 2002 - 4:33 PM
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By: |
OHMSS76
(Member)
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I hope it shows up too Pete, I've always wanted to see it....I thought it was a rumor, but I've heard Romero and Savini confirm it was shot on a couple different occasions. Of course the film is probably lost, or their still too embarassed to show the effect(I can't imagine Savini doing anything unwatchable!).
I got the novelization of the film for Christmas, and the ending was changed back to the film version. The original ending CAN be found, I believe on the deluxe AB Laserdisc....I haven't read it for some time, but am 99% sure it included the 'helicopter blade' ending.
I hope they include the script from the LD on the new DVD.....fun to read, and it includes several illustrations by Romero, and shows how detailed his story was.
His initial plan for the film was VERY dark, with people holed up into the crawlspaces of the mall, and the man going out to forage for food. It apparently was very bleak, but over time Romero changed the story.
And if you go to www.livingdead.com there is a wonderful breakdown of the music, and what/where the library cues are! Of course we all need to campaign to get these released
Best,
Sean
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It's almost Halloween -- and although I may have posted this true story before it always comes back to me around this time of the year:
Dawn of the Dead – Sneak Preview 1978
The small newspaper ad appeared one day in “The New York Times” – an icon of a sun rising – with an announcement that “Dawn of the Dead” would be shown one night only – a special sneak preview on the evening of Friday the 13th in New York City – at the Gemini Theater, 64th and Second, on the downstairs screen. Using the dates from Wiki and Google as my memory guide, I believe this sneak preview happened on October 13, 1978:
Principal Photography Ends, February 1978
Film Premieres at Cannes Festival, May 1978
[Friday the 13th Sneak Preview in New York City, October 13, 1978]
Film Officially Opens in New York City April 20, 1979
I remember that I arrived at the Theater on a chilly afternoon – went to the box office -- and confirmed with the ticket clerk that a separate line would be created for the sneak – and that the theater would be emptied of patrons who had watched the regularly scheduled film before the sneak started. By the time I purchased my ticket a small line had already started – this was an eagerly anticipated film -- a major event in horror cinema.
Soon, more folks began to show up – and joined the line for the sneak. Among them was a tall, well dressed gentleman with gray hair. Nondescript in a suit and black overcoat. He was one or two places behind me. I had convinced a friend to join me after work (I’d taken the afternoon off), so I stood patiently -- people watching. The conversations that I could hear confirmed that there was a strong core fan base for the film queueing up. As I recall, some extras from the film were there and some crew members. It is possible that Mr. Romero attended – but back then I would not have recognized him. There was a young guy grandly attired in a huge black cape.
What made this sneak preview remain clearly fixed in my memory is what happened next. Suddenly, the gentleman who had been standing a few places back got out of line and walked hesitantly toward the front of the theater. He didn’t look well. Then, he collapsed. He was immediately surrounded by persons who tried to help him up, but he was basically unresponsive. We called 911. As the ambulance arrived – a young woman also arrived in a taxi – and she turned ashen when she saw who was laying on the ground. She talked to the emergency staff – and watched as the ambulance went away to a local hospital. The line of ticket holders was admitted to the theater and allowed into the downstairs lobby – and the women could be heard making multiple phone calls on a pay phone inside the theater.
There was a weird, nervous, edge to the audience as we were allowed into the empty, dark theater: anticipation oddly mixed with quiet reserve, and a sense that all hell was about to let loose. My friend had joined me just as we were entering the lobby – and we took our usual 5th row, center section, seats.
The audience that night responded so enthusiastically and weirdly to “Dawn of the Dead” – rousing laughter, cheers at audacious splatter effects, and amazement when it became clear that this was going to be a long, long film – I believe the version we saw that night clocked in at approximately 2 hrs. 20 minutes. It had many scenes and moments that were apparently cut when the general release version hit theaters in 1979.
I think that those of us who had been in the line that evening when the event occurred were perhaps unnerved by an intimation of mortality – that life was precious and things could change, snap in two, without reason. Whenever I watch “Dawn of the Dead” it impacts me in a very personal way and seems more than just a horror film – an unsettling reminder that life can transform in dark and mysterious ways without warning.
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I was about to say "I thought they didn't celebrate Halloween in Norway..." and throw up a squinting Fry gif. Then I noticed this thread was from January—and sixteen years ago.
Anyway, great film, regardless of what time of the year you enjoy your blood 'n gore.  And a great memory to go with it there (excepting what happened to that poor gentleman of course)!
And Thor, if you're reading, that exquisite elegy is titled "Oblio."
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